BackgroundSecondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is a progressive disease with characteristic pathophysiological changes that may influence prognosis. Although the staging of SMR patients suffering... Show moreBackgroundSecondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is a progressive disease with characteristic pathophysiological changes that may influence prognosis. Although the staging of SMR patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) according to extramitral cardiac involvement has prognostic value in medically treated patients, such data are so far lacking for edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (M-TEER).ObjectivesThis study sought to classify M-TEER patients into disease stages based on the phenotype of extramitral cardiac involvement and to assess its impact on symptomatic and survival outcomes.MethodsBased on echocardiographic and clinical assessment, patients were assigned to 1 of the following HFrEF-SMR groups: left ventricular involvement (Stage 1), left atrial involvement (Stage 2), right ventricular volume/pressure overload (Stage 3), or biventricular failure (Stage 4). A Cox regression model was implemented to investigate the impact of HFrEF-SMR stages on 2-year all-cause mortality. The symptomatic outcome was assessed with New York Heart Association functional class at follow-up.ResultsAmong a total of 849 eligible patients who underwent M-TEER for relevant SMR from 2008 until 2019, 9.5% (n = 81) presented with left ventricular involvement, 46% (n = 393) with left atrial involvement, 15% (n = 129) with right ventricular pressure/volume overload, and 29% (n = 246) with biventricular failure. An increase in HFrEF-SMR stage was associated with increased 2-year all-cause mortality after M-TEER (HR: 1.39; CI: 1.23-1.58; P < 0.01). Furthermore, higher HFrEF-SMR stages were associated with significantly less symptomatic improvement at follow-up.ConclusionsThe classification of M-TEER patients into HFrEF-SMR stages according to extramitral cardiac involvement provides prognostic value in terms of postinterventional survival and symptomatic improvement. Show less
BACKGROUND. Dose reduction strategies for coronary CTA (CCTA) have been underused in clinical practice given concern that the strategies may lower image quality.OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study... Show moreBACKGROUND. Dose reduction strategies for coronary CTA (CCTA) have been underused in clinical practice given concern that the strategies may lower image quality.OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to explore associations between dose reduction strategies and CCTA image quality in real-world clinical practice.METHODS. This subanalysis of the international Prospective Multicenter Registry on Radiation Dose Estimates of Cardiac CT Angiography in Daily Practice in 2017 (PROTECTION VI) study included 3725 patients (2109 men, 1616 women; median age, 59 years) who underwent CCTA for coronary artery evaluation performed at 55 sites in 32 countries. CCTA image sets were reviewed at a core laboratory. A range of patient and scan characteristics, including use of three dose reduction strategies (prospective ECG triggering, low tube potential, and iterative image reconstruction) and image dose, were recorded. A single core laboratory member reviewed all examinations for quantitative image quality measures, including signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and reviewed 50% of examinations to assign a qualitative CCTA image quality score and a semiquantitative coronary calcification measure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of image quality. A second core laboratory member repeated quantitative measures for 100 examinations and the qualitative measure for 383 (approximately 20%) examinations to assess interreader agreement.RESULTS. Independent predictors (p < .05) of SNR were female sex (effect size, 2.70), lower body mass index (0.38 per 1-unit decrease), stable sinus rhythm (1.71), and scanner manufacturer (variable effect across manufacturers). These factors were also the only independent predictors of CNR. Independent predictors (p < .05) of CCTA image quality were heart rate (0.17 per 10 beats/min reduction) and coronary calcification (0.15 per coronary calcification grade). None of the three dose-saving strategies or dose-length product was an independent predictor of any image quality measure. Interreader agreement analysis showed intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.874 for SNR and 0.891 for CNR and a kappa value of 0.812 for the qualitative score.CONCLUSION. This large international multicenter study shows that three dose reduction strategies were not associated with decreased CCTA image quality.CLINICAL IMPACT. The dose reduction strategies should be routinely implemented in clinical CCTA. Show less
Deseive, S.; Kupke, M.; Straub, R.; Stocker, T.J.; Broersen, A.; Kitslaar, P.; ... ; Hausleiter, J. 2021
Aims Automated coronary total plaque volume (TPV) quantification derived from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) datasets provide exact and reliable assessment of calcified and non... Show moreAims Automated coronary total plaque volume (TPV) quantification derived from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) datasets provide exact and reliable assessment of calcified and non-calcified coronary atheroscler- osis burden. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the long-term predictive value of TPV.Methods and results TPV was quantified in 1577 patients undergoing coronary CTA and cardiovascular events were collected during 10.5 years (interquartile range 6.0-11.4) of follow-up. The study endpoint comprised cardiac death and acute cor- onary syndrome and occurred in 59 (3.7%) patients. Coronary TPV provided additive prognostic value over clinical risk assessed with the Morise Score and coronary artery disease severity (rise in C-index from 0.744 to 0.769, P=0.03). A category-based reclassification approach combining the Morise Score and TPV revealed superior risk stratification (categorical net reclassification improvement: 0.48 with 95% CI 0.13-0.68, P< 0.001) and resulted in reclassification of 800 (51%) patients compared with the Morise Score alone. The 10-year risk for the study endpoint was 0.6% (95% CI 0-1.3) for patients classified as low risk (n = 807), 4.8% (95% CI 2.4-7.2) for patients at intermediate risk (n = 400), and 10.3% (95% CI 6.6-13.9) for patients at high risk (n = 370) using the combined reclassification approach.Conclusion Quantification of TPV from coronary CTA permits an improved 10-year cardiovascular risk stratification. Show less
Stocker, T.J.; Leipsic, J.; Hadamitzky, M.; Chen, M.Y.; Rubinshtein, R.; Deseive, S.; ... ; Hausleiter, J. 2020
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the use of low tube potentials for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in worldwide clinical practice and its influence on radiation... Show moreOBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the use of low tube potentials for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in worldwide clinical practice and its influence on radiation exposure, contrast agent volume, and image quality.BACKGROUND CCTA is frequently used in clinical practice. Lowering of tube potential is a potent method to reduce radiation exposure and to economize contrast agent volume.METHODS CCTAs of 4,006 patients from 61 international study sites were analyzed regarding very-tow (<= 80 kVp), tow (90 to100 kVp), conventional (110 to 120 kVp), and high (>= 130 kVp) tube potentials. The impact on dose-length product (DLP) and contrast agent volume was analyzed. Image quality was determined by evaluation of the diagnostic applicability and assessment of the objective image parameters signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise-ratio (CNR).RESULTS When compared with conventional tube potentials, low tube potentials were used in 56% of CCTAs (<= 80 kVp 9%; 90 to 100 kVp: 47%), which varied among sites from 0% to 100%. Tube potential reduction was associated with low-cardiovascular risk profile, low body mass index (BMI), and new-generation scanners. Median radiation exposure was lowered by 68% or 50% and median contrast agent volume by 25% or 13% for tube potential protocols of <= 80 kVp or 90 to 100 kVp when compared with conventional tube potentials, respectively (all p < 0.001). With the use of lower tube potentials, the frequency of diagnostic scans was maintained (p = 0.41), whereas SNR and CNR significantly improved (both p < 0.001). Considering BMI eligibility criteria, 58% (n = 946) of conventionally scanned patients would have been suitable for low tube potential protocols, and 44% (n = 831) of patients scanned with 90 to 100 kVp would have been eligible for very-low tube potential CCTA imaging of <= 80 kVp.CONCLUSIONS This large international registry confirms the feasibility of tube potential reduction in clinical practice leading to rower radiation exposure and lower contrast volumes. The current registry also demonstrates that this strategy is stilt underused in daily practice. (C) 2020 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation. Show less
Purpose: The rationale of this study was to identify patients with fast progression of coronary plaque volume PV and characterize changes in PV and plaque components over time.Method: Total PV (TPV... Show morePurpose: The rationale of this study was to identify patients with fast progression of coronary plaque volume PV and characterize changes in PV and plaque components over time.Method: Total PV (TPV) was measured in 350 patients undergoing serial coronary computed tomography angiography (median scan interval 3.6 years) using semi-automated software. Plaque morphology was assessed based on attenuation values and stratified into calcified, fibrous, fibrous-fatty and low-attenuation PV for volumetric measurements. Every plaque was additionally classified as either calcified, partially calcified or non-calcified.Results: In total, 812 and 955 plaques were detected in the first and second scan. Mean TPV increase was 20 % on a per-patient base (51.3 mm(3) [interquartile range (IQR): 14.4, 126.7] vs. 61.6 mm(3) [IQR: 16.7, 170.0]). TPV increase was driven by calcified PV (first scan: 7.6 mm(3) [IQR: 0.2, 33.6] vs. second scan: 16.6 mm(3) [IQR: 1.8, 62.1], p < 0.01). Forty-two patients showed fast progression of TPV, defined as > 1.3 mm(3) increase of TPV per month. Male sex (odds ratio 3.1, p = 0.02) and typical angina (odds ratio 3.95, p = 0.03) were identified as risk factors for fast TPV progression, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had a protective effect (odds ratio per 10 mg/dl increase of HDL cholesterol: 0.72, p < 0.01). Progression to > 50 % stenosis at follow-up was observed in 34 of 327 (10.4 %) calcified plaques, in 13 of 401 (3.2 %) partially calcified plaques and 2 of 221 (0.9 %) non-calcified plaques (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Fast plaque progression was observed in male patients and patients with typical angina. High HDL cholesterol showed a protective effect. Show less
Deseive, S.; Straub, R.; Kupke, M.; Broersen, A.; Kitslaar, P.H.; Stocker, T.J.; ... ; Hausleiter, J. 2019
Background: To investigate the impact of diabetes on coronary artery total plaque volume (TPV) and adverse events in long-term follow-up.Methods: One-hundred-and-eight diabetic patients were... Show moreBackground: To investigate the impact of diabetes on coronary artery total plaque volume (TPV) and adverse events in long-term follow-up.Methods: One-hundred-and-eight diabetic patients were matched to 324 non-diabetic patients, with respect to age, sex, body-mass index, hypertension, smoking habits, LDL and HDL cholesterol, family history for CAD as well as aspirin and statin medication. In all patients, TPV was quantified from coronary CT angiographies (CTA) using dedicated software. All-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome and late revascularisation ( > 90 days) served as combined endpoint.Results: Patients were followed for 5.6 years. The endpoint occurred in 18 (16.7%) diabetic and 26 (8.0%) nondiabetic patients (odds ratio 2.3, p = 0.03). Diabetic patients had significantly higher TPV than non-diabetic patients (55.1 mm 3 [IQR: 6.2 and 220.4 mm(3)] vs. 24.9 mm 3 [IQR: 0 and 166.7 mm(3)], p = 0.02). A TPV threshold of 110.5 mm(3) provided good separation of diabetic and non-diabetic patients at higher and lower risk for adverse events. Noteworthy, diabetic and non-diabetic patients with a TPV < 110.5 mm(3) had comparable outcome (hazard ratio: 1.3, p = 0.59), while diabetic patients with TPV > 110.5 mm(3) had significantly higher incidence of adverse events (hazard ratio 2.3, p = 0.03) compared to non-diabetic patients with TPV > 110.5 mm(3). There was incremental prognostic value in diabetic and non-diabetic patients over the Framingham Risk Score (Integrated Discrimination Improvement: 0.052 and 0.012, p for both < 0.05).Conclusion: Diabetes is associated with significantly higher TPV, which is independent of other CAD risk factors. Quantification of TPV improves the identification of diabetic patients at higher risk for future adverse events. Show less
Stocker, T.J.; Deseive, S.; Leipsic, J.; Hadamitzky, M.; Chen, M.Y.; Rubinshtein, R.; ... ; PROTECTION VI Investigators 2018
